Doughnut turner



Jan. 9, 1951 T. B. BRICKSON DOUGHNUT TURNER 4 SheetsSheet 1 Filed May 29, 1946 f m WM/ Wm [C M 5 T. B. BRICKSON Jan. 9, 1951 DOUGHNUT TURNER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 29, 1946 IN V EN TOR. ams B. B/P/CAS OA/ T. B. BRICKSON Jan. 9, 1951 DOUGHNUT TURNER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 29, 1946 R 3 mm mm 6 w ww V Jan. 9, 1951 Filed May 29, 1946 "r. B. BRICKSON 2,537,204

DOUGHNUT TURNER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 J gjwucmtoo flaw/4515. Ema/ 50m Patented Jan. 9, 1951 DOUGHNUT TURNER Thomas B. Erickson, Los Angeles,: Calif-.,.assignor by mesne assignments, toDoughnut Corporas tion of America, New York, N. Y., a corporation,

of N ewYork Application May 29, 1946; Serial' No.- 672,998

6 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for facilitating the, making of doughnuts, crullers, and other edible products which are cooked while floating on a body of hotlard or other cooking oil and particularly to a machine useful in bakcries and the like in which such products are prepared in large quantities.

An important object of the inventionis to provide a device for the purpose above mentioned which is so constructed that a largequantity of the particular product. can be. simultaneously cooked, turned, removed and new uncooked blanks be subjected tocooking with a minimum loss of time whereby av given area of cooking medium is substantially constantly utilized to the greatest extent resulting in increasedoutput.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character wherein a large quantity of blanks of doughnuts, crullers or'the like can be dropped into the cooking oil in..a predetermined spaced relation which relation is thereafter maintained during the entire cooking operation.

Still another object of the invention is. the provision in a device of the above character of means for simultaneously turning a quantity of doughnuts, or other products being cooked whereby uniformity in the time of cooking of said quantity is achieved.

A still further object of the invention is the provision in a device of the above character of means constructed and arranged to remove. a quantity of doughnuts simultaneously from the surface of the C00killg medium and subsequently to simultaneously deposit a quantity of uncooked blanks on the surface of the cooking medium which means is adapted to permit the free op eration of the devices for turning the doughnuts or other products being cooked.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a device of the above character, a raising or lowering means for a quantity of doughnuts which means is so constructed and arranged as to permit the ready reception and removal of trays on which the products to be cooked are deposited and from which the cooked products are removed.

A still further object of the invention is-the provision in a device of the above character of means to receive and manipulate a series of trays i to be used in connectionwith the turning devices which trays are so constructed and arranged as to permit the turning devices tooperate and to permit the free circulation of the cookingoil.

A still further object of theinvention is to pro- 2*. videa. device of the above character whichislof light weight which is easy, to clean'and whichis simpleiand economical to construct and to;main.- tain'in 5 operative condition.

- With the-,-foregoing objects in view, together .with such1otheroblects. and advantages as .may

subsequently appear,, the invention residesin the parts; and in the. combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed; andillustrated by way of example ingthe accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig, l is a front end elevation of one embodiment of the, invention, portions of the structure being broken vaway for clearness of illustration,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the form shown, in Fig, l; and showing additionally indotted lines the movement of that portion of the. apparatus which deposits the uncooked articles in thecookingoil and removes them therefrom,

Fig. 3 is a top plan view taken on the staggered line 3-3. of-Fig. 2, the center portionof thedevicebein broken out to permit the use of a large scale of drawing for clearness of illustration,

Fig. 4 is a sectional side elevation takenonthe lined-40f Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 isairagmentary perspectiveview of;one of the turning elements, its mountingineansand associated deflector plate, and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration, of the progressive steps in vturningadouglinut by means of this invention.

Generally considered, the device embodies a frame structure A- which is designed to be positioned in a kettlecontainingheated oil, together with rack raising and lowering mechanismlion the frame structure for positioning articles to be cooked on the surface of the oilandremoving themtherefrom, andineans carried by the frame structure for effecting turning overof the articles floating on the oil including upright; stationary defiectorplates arranged for partial .submergence in theoil and associated moveable turning elements arrangedfor positioning beneath the articles floating on the oil.

The frame structure-'Acomprises a front, end member 1 and a rear end member 2, formed of sheet metal and connected at their side edges by allower pair ofangle ironmembers 3 and' lland anupper pair. of angle iron members 5 and, 6 constituting the side members of theframe struc ture. The memberst. and thavethelower legs thereof disposed horizontally with the edgeportions disposed inwardly while the upper legsare disposed vertically substantially. flush with the side edges of the end members. The members 5 and 6 have the upper leg portions disposed horizontally with the free edges thereof substantially flush with the side edges of the end members and with the depending, vertically disposed lower leg members located inwardly from the side edges of the end members I and 2. The front end member l extends above the upper side members 5 and 8 and has its upper portion inclined rearwardly and provided with rearwardly extending side flange members Ea and lb forming a wall extending across the front and a short distance along the sides of the frame structure arranged to project above the surface of the oil to confine articles floating on the oil adjacent the inside of the front end member.

Extending between the vertically disposed faces of members 5 and 8 at spaced intervals are the vertically disposed lower portions of a series of fixed deflector plates 5 which plates above the level of the members 5 and 5 first extend vertically a short distance then are inclined upwardly and forwardly at an acute angle from the horizontal as at 8, thence extendin vertically upward as at e for a short a distance and thence extend upwardly and rearwardly at an acute angle to the vertical for a considerable distance as at H). The function of these faces will be described in connection with the operation of the apparatus.

Extending transversely of the frame structure and mounted in the vertically disposed legs of the members 5 and G slightly in front of the lower portions of the deflector plates is a series of shafts H, one for each deflector plate. The shafts are held against endwise movement by any suitable means such as cotter pins l2 extending through the ends of the shafts exteriorly of the members 5 and 6.

Mounted for oscillation on each of said shafts is a turning element [3 comprising a sheet metal element extending transversely of the frame structure between the opposed vertical faces of the members 5 and t and comprising in its normal position, a short vertically disposed rear wall 14, a substantially horizontal portion l5 extending forwardly from the lower side of the wall l4, aforwardly extending upwardly inclined wall portion I5 disposed at an obtuse angle to the horizontal, and a second forwardly and upwardly inclined wall portion l? disposed at a greater obtuse angle to the horizontal and terminating in a rebent lip portion l8. Attached by any suitable means such as welding to the vertical wall portion Id of each turning element [3 are the horizontally disposed end portions l9 and IQ of hanger elements 2%! and 2! the free ends 22 and 23 of which project slightly beyond the edges of the turning element. The inner ends of the hanger elements extend vertically and at their upper ends are formed into eyelets 2 5 and 25 through which the shafts ll extend. Extending along one side of the frame structure between the lower member 3 and the adjacent ends of the turning members is a side rod 25 provided with a series of apertures in which the projecting ends 22 of the adjacent hanger elements 20 are journalled. A similar side rod 2i engages the ends 23 of the hanger elements 2! at the opposite side of the frame structure. Pivotally mounted in the members 5 and t is a shaft 28 to one end of which, exteriorly of the member 5, a lever 29 is fixed by any suitable means such as welding. The lever has a depending portion 30 which near the lower end is offset inwardly as at'3l to lie closely adjacent to the outer face of the side rod 26 to which it is pivotally connected by a pin 32. The upper end of the lever 29 is upwardly, forwardly and outwardly inclined and terminates in a handle supporting portion 33 to which a handle 33" may be attached.

The other end of the shaft 28 projects beyond the member 6 and has fixed thereto a lever 34 which at its lower end is attached by a pivot pin 35 to the side bar 21 and this lever at its upper end also is inclined upwardly, forwardly and outwardly, terminating in a handle supporting portion 36 to which if desired, the handle 33 may be applied depending on which side of the apparatus is to be accessible for operation in a particular installation.

Disposed at opposite sides of the frame structure and attached to the side members 3 and 5 and 4 and 6 respectively by suitable means such as welding or brazing is a pair of upstanding bracket members 31 and 31' to the upper ends of which one end each of a pair of arm members 38 and 39 are pivoted by means of pivot pins 40 and 4| fixed to the arm members 38 and 39 respectively. Cotter pins 42 and 43 extending through the pivot pins and washers M and 45 underlying the cotter pins serve to hold the arm members 38 and 39 in assembly. At the rear end of the frame structure and disposed at either side thereof is a pair of upstanding members 46 and El attached by brazing or welding respectively to the members. The members 46 and 4'! at their upper ends are inclined rearwardly and are provided with aligned apertures through which a fulcrum pin 48 extends and is secured against endwise movement by cotter pins 49 and washers 50 cxteriorly of the members 46 and 41. Freely mounted on the fulcrum pin 68 and extending between the opposite faces of the members 46 and 41 is a sleeve 5| to the opposite ends of which are rigidly secured a pair of radially projecting arms 52 and 53. Near each end thereof, the sleeve 5| is provided with internally threaded bosses 54, 54 to either of which a handle 55 may be attached.

Pivotally connected to the free ends of the arms 38, 39, 52 and 53 is a rack manipulating frame comprising a side member 56 having laterally projecting pins 5'3 and 58 pivotally engaging the free ends of the arms 38 and 52, an oppositely disposed side member 59 having laterally projecting pins 60 and GI pivotally engaging the free ends of the arms 39 and 53, the two side members being interconnected by a series of cross members 62 welded or brazed to the inturned flange portions 63 and 64 of the side members. Additionally the arms 38 and 52 are respectively provided with laterally projecting pins 65 and 66 which pins are pivotally engaged by a lazy bar 6'! and a lazy bar 68 pivotally engaging pivots pins 69 and '10 carried by the arms 39 and 53 serves to interconnect said arms in the same manner. It will be seen that upon oscillation, of the sleeve 5! the rack manipulating frame will be given a parallel rule motion about the axes of the fulcrum pin 88 and the aligned axes of the pivot pins id and 4|. Preferably, the tension spring 19 is attached at one end to the projecting end of the fulcrum pin 48 and at its other end to the forward arm (38 or 39) at the point of connection therewith of the lazy bar. This spring can be mounted on either side as the installation of the apparatus makes desirable. It will be noted that in this position, the spring 70 acts as an over-center spring operating to hold the rack manipulating aggre ate;

undere-faces of the lazy bars- 6-"? andl 6'8 or Fin its lower position determined by engagement". offthe flange 'memb'ers- 53- and 6& with the iupperrrfaces of the members l'rand E 1 respectively.

The upper ffaees of the flange membcrsefibiand. 6 1 are adapted to -receive and support: a r-rack, comprising spaced side members l'i and H "hav ing' secured tlierebetween at: spaced intervals; a series of transverse strips of heavy screem 1-2; the intervals L between adjacent strips providing clearance for the entrance of the deflecting members incident tothe lowering of the rack manipulating frame and-a rack carried. thereby in the manner described above: The' proper longitudinalposition of. the. rackisldetermined by a laterally projecting flange member13 carried by the-arm member 52.

In usezthe apparatus is placed'ih a kettlefacontaining heatedcookingoilandisdisposedismthat therlevellof the-oil is approximately halfway up the vertical portions 9- ofthe deflector platesfl. The rack manipulating. frame; lSfmoved to; its

upper position and a rack having a series of doughnut blanks placed on the screen portions 12 is placed on the inturned flanges 63 and 64 by sliding it in endwise from the front end until it comes in contact with the flange member 13. Preferably the front ends of the side members 56 and 59 are flared outwardly slightly to guide the leading edge of the rack into position. The rack manipulating frame is then lowered carrying the rack with it, the upper ends it] of the deflecting plates entering the intervals between the screen strips comprising the rack. When the frame has reached its lowest position the blanks will be floating on the oil and the rack will be out of contact therewith. When the cooking operation on one side has been completed, the operator moves the lever connected with the turning apparatus to turn the partly cooked doughnuts over.

In Fig. 6 there is illustrated diagrammatically the successive steps by which this operation is accomplished. In the first position the parts are shown in the position occupied at the beginning of the turning operation. As the turning element i3 is moved clockwise, as viewed in this figure, the lip portion l8 thereof will engage the side of the doughnut remote from the deflector plate and start to lift it, the opposite side of the doughnut remaining floating in the oil. Then, continued movement of the turner will lift the engaged side of the doughnut until it is past a vertical position upon which it will fall against the deflector plate and will be permitted to slide down the face thereof until it is permitted to float in its inverted position on completion of the return movement of the turner. When the cooking operation is completed, the rack manipulating frame is raised to its upper position, the rack containing the cooked doughnuts is removed and a fresh rack placed thereon. It will be noted that through the connection of the turning elements by the side bars all of the doughnuts in a rack load will be turned simultaneously. Further, since the bottom and sides of the apparatus are completely open a free circulation of the cooking oil is permitted thus maintaining a uniform cooking temperature.

Thus there has been provided an apparatus for cooking doughnuts characterized by simple, sturdy construction, which in all parts is accessible for cleaning and which is capable of a high rate of production of doughnuts of uniform quality-r. Itawill be understoodtthatxwhilerimthez foregoing: specification the term- 'doughnuttlia&z been used 'it 'is not intended; that Lthezusefulnessi of the --device shall be 'so limited? and thatiprine k ciples-nfconstructionand mode of foperationrmaam be used with equal advantage rice the =cooking:of: otherwfo'odlproducts. a

While I have shown and describediawspecific" embodiment of'myinvention, I-do'not limit myself to the exact details oflconstruction set forth; and the invention embraces: such changes; modificaa tionsand" equivalents of" the: parts: and? their; f ormation and arrangement as comea'withinrtheb purview of tlieappended claimsa I claim? 1?; In an apparatus' for cooling'douglinuts;,tiie% combination of T a frame-=structure iinmersiblezin a' bath of 'cooklng oil and havinggaseriessofffiirezli spaced transverse partitions extending: fronn az point" below" to a point above the normal? level of 'cooking oil in which theapparatus isiinmersedii, said par-titions defining aseries of? parallel cook; ingzones; means for lowering and raising-='a-seriesz of' doughnuts into i and :out of the'cooking-nil fiir: said zones comprising a rack supporting device having a parallel rule movement, a rack carried by said supporting device provided with a series of spaced openings adapted to be entered by said partitions incident to the lowering of said device and rack, a separate turning element in each of said zones and operable through an opening in said rack to engage and turn doughnuts in said zone and means for interconnecting said turning devices for simultaneous operation.

2. In a doughnut cooking apparatus adapted to be immersed in a body of cooking oil, the combination of a frame structure comprising a pair of end members, a pair of side members disposed one above the other at each side of said frame structure and connected to each of said end members, means supported by said frame structure for raising and lowering a batch of doughnuts into the cooking oil, fixed transverse partitions on said frame structure for maintaining the doughnuts in a predetermined relation to one another and doughnut turning means carried by said frame structure for simultaneously engaging all of the doughnuts in one batch and turn them over; said turning means including a lip for abutment with the underside of a marginal portion of a doughnut to tilt it upwardly and rearwardly on the cooking oil.

3. In a doughnut turner, a frame structure for immersion in hot cooking oil, spaced fixed defiector plates carried by said frame structure having inclined upper portions extending above the oil level and having lower portions extending below the oil level, vertically moveable oscillatory doughnut turning elements adjacent the lower portions of said plates embodying forwardly and upwardly inclined wall portions, doughnut, engaging lips on the outer margins of said wall portions, and means for swinging said elements; said elements being moveable to tilt doughnuts floating on the oil backwardly against the upper portions of said deflector plates and being moveable to release the doughnuts, and allow them to slide from the deflector plates onto the oil in an inverted position.

4. In a doughnut turner, a frame structure, a fixed deflector plate having an upwardly extend ing portion, a vertically moveable oscillatory doughnut turning element adjacent the lower portion of said plate having a doughnut engaging lip, and means for swinging said element; said lip being engageable with the underside of a doughnut on upward movement of the element and moveable on a path that will tilt the doughnut upwardly and rearwardly against the deflector plate and being moveable downwardly to release the doughnut; said deflector plate directing the released doughnut downwardly in an inverted position.

5. In a doughnut turner, a frame structure, a deflector plate fixed on said frame structure having an upwardly extending portion, a rock shaft adjacent the lower portion of said plate, hangers on said rock shaft, a doughnut turning element on said hanger including a horizontal portion leading from the hangers, and an upwardly extending portion, a doughnut engaging lip on said upwardly extending portion arranged to abut the underside of the marginal portions of doughnuts floating on a liquid in which said turning element is submerged, said lip being moveable upward on turning said rock shaft in one direction to upend doughnuts engaged thereby against said deflector plate; said plate being arranged in the path of doughnuts upended by said turner to deflect the doughnuts edgewise into the liquid into an inverted position.

6. The structure called for in claim 5 together with a rack support pivoted to said frame for vertical parallel rule movement, a, doughnut carrying rack on said support; said rack support being positionable in said frame to dispose said rack adjacent said rock-shaft, said rack having an opening to receive said partition and through which the lipped end of said turner extends on upward movement thereof.

THOMAS B. BRICKSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,189,200 Dusterdick Feb. 6, 1940 2,199,266 Maier Apr. 30, 1940 2,202,602 Ruch May 28, 1940 2,334,650 Ruch Nov. 16, 1943 2,450,962 Hornkohl et a1. Oct. 12, 1948 

